Hull City manager Nigel Adkins is aware of the odds against his side as they prepare to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth-round.

The Championship strugglers will travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the hope of causing an improbable upset.

The Tigers, relegated from the Premier League last season, are currently embroiled in a tough relegation battle and have 12 players on their injury list.

And Adkins knows they'll need the football gods on their side to have any hope of beating the reigning Premier League champions.

He said: "We need the magic of the FA Cup and we'll need a lot of it because we're going up against a top side with an excellent manager and players who are used to winning things.

"They'll see this competition as an opportunity to go and win another trophy. We're going there under no illusions about the challenge in front of us.

"You have to believe that an upset is possible, though - it's the FA Cup. We'll select a team with some counter-attacking ability and with any opportunities we do get in the game, we have to be ruthless and clinical.

"We'll be up against it defensively because we're going up against a very good side.

"For us, it's all to gain, nothing to lose".